• labor •

Meaning: 1. Work for wages. 2. Difficult or exhausting work. 3. The process of childbirth. 4. The liberal political party in Britain and certain other countries (capitalized).

Notes: Keep in mind that today's is one of those words, like color-colour, favor-favour, spelled with a [u] outside the US (labour). The adjective is laborious everywhere. Liberals in some countries are referred to as the Labor Party or just Labor, since Liberals have historically worked for the rights of workers.

In Play: The first Monday in September was designated Labor Day by Congress in 1894 to divert the attention of the US labor movement away from the May Day demonstrations in Europe. These demonstrations were organized by socialist parties in support of the 8-hour workday. They began in Paris on May 1, 1890, and that day eventually became International Labor Day, celebrated throughout the rest of the industrialized world. The 8-hour workday became law under Roosevelt's New Deal in 1938 after most major manufacturers had adopted it. Today we continue to celebrate the most productive labor force on Earth on Labor Day.

Word History: English labor is a perfect tracing of Latin labor "work", a word that remained labor "work, activity" in Spanish, and went on to become French labour "ploughing" and Italian lavoro "work". The Latin noun underlies the verb laborare, visible in laboratorium "workplace", the source of laboratory. Elaborate comes from Latin elaborare "to work out" that was originally ex "out" + laborare "work".

All of us here at alphaDictionary wish all of you a happy and relaxing Labor Day with your family and friends.

On the other hand, most businesses have an accumulated leave policy, sometimes adding a paid day off for, say, every two months you work, aiming for a week off after a year. Some businesses cap it at two or three weeks. Some allow you to take a day or two off, say to make a four day weekend. Others require at least a week or five days at a time. I once worked in a welfare department where the social workers could take the days one at a time if they chose until the typing pool complained. Seems they made it harder for the typists to get off in order to keep the work going.

Surprised no one has yet mentioned the legendary Puritan work ethic. We blame a lot on that over here.

A trivial labor tale from my Russia days, but not an urban legend as I personally know the person involved:

Russians are known for smoking. My friend was a non-smoker in an office full of smokers. As smoking was not allowed inside, all the users had to go to the front of the building. Mini breaks, you could say. As my friend did not do this, on occasion she would tell the boss she should get a Friday off to make up for the difference. She got them.

Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

Ah yes, you did mention the work ethic. But to me there is a significant difference between a work ethic and the Puritan work ethic, as between a hard worker and a workaholic. I used to be the latter, but I now enjoy your lifestyle sans the vodka. However, my coffee has by many been deemed of at least equal strength. Now excuse me while I refill my cup.

Perry: I believe the Puritan work ethic is more often termed the Protestant work ethic. Max Weber coined the phrase. While he wrote in German, it translates to Protestant rather than Puritan. Being neither a Puritan nor a Protestant, I stand outside this tradition. I do, however, have a work ethic.